IHC to announce Elections Act 2017 amendment case verdict on 9th

by Staff Report , (Last Updated March 7, 2018)

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday reserved its decision in the Elections Act 2017 amendment case which deals with changes in the oath that lawmakers take regarding the Finality of Prophethood (PBUH). The decision on the case will be delivered on March 9.

The court remarked that it did not send a notice to any legislative assembly speaker and will not exceed its constitutional limit. The judge observed that they summoned details of Senate proceedings which were already available on the website of the Upper House of Parliament.

Earlier on Monday, the IHC called for the Senate’s debate record from the date when the Elections Act 2017 amendments were passed last year.

While hearing the case on oath changes that lawmakers take regarding the Finality of Prophethood (PBUH), IHC Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui ordered the deputy attorney general to deliver the complete record in a sealed envelope on March 6.

Justice Siddiqui remarked that the court is interested in taking a look at those who voted in favour and against of the bill, adding that he is expecting the sealed envelope for his own knowledge and not to influence the legislature.

The government had also in an earlier hearing, submitted a report by the committee investigating changes in the Finality of Prophethood (PBUH) oath to the IHC.

The committee, headed by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Chairman Senator Raja Zafarul Haq, was formed to discover and disclose the identity of those responsible for making changes in the oath when the Elections Act 2017 was passed last year.